Unhindered: Let's Get Unhindered (Acts 28:31; 1:1-11)

Series: Unhindered

Sermon: Let's Get Unhindered

Scripture: Acts 28:31; 1:1-11

Date: January 13, 2019

 

He proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ - with all boldness and without hindrance!  (Acts 28:31)

The first account I composed, Theophilus, about all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day when He was taken up to heaven, after He had by the Holy Spirit given orders to the apostles whom He had chosen.  To these He also presented Himself alive after His suffering, by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days and speaking of the things concerning the kingdom of God.  Gathering them together, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for what the Father had promised, "Which," He said, "you heard of from Me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now."  So when they had come together, they were asking Him, saying, "Lord, is it at this time You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?"  He said to them, "It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority; but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest parts of the earth."  And after He had said these things, He was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.  And as they were gazing intently into the sky while He was going, behold, two men in white clothing stood beside them.  They also said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky?  This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven."  (Acts 1:1-11)

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He proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ - with all boldness and without hindrance!  (Acts 28:31)

Don't you want to live that way?  All in with and all out for Jesus?

The first account I composed, Theophilus, about all that Jesus began to do and teach...  (Acts 1:1)

One thing we have to bring to the table is the desire.

Here's a few good words for us as we start thinking about living an unhindered life with and for Jesus:

1. Admit that you are hindered
   • What is your biggest hindrance to being all in with and all out for Jesus?
   • What might hinder them at this point? What would hinder you?  Fear... Confusion... Uncertainty... How will this turn out?... What about my family?... Are we going to end up like You?... How are we supposed to do this?... I've never done this before....
   • WEEKLY GROWTH SUGGESTION: Identify and write down your biggest hindrance to going all in with and all out for Jesus on a note card.
   • Ask God what is hindering you the most these days. Is it:
     • Fear
     • Comfort
     • What others think
     • Apathy
     • Lack of authenticity
     • Defensiveness
     • Desire
     • Procrastination
     • Compromise
     • Pride
     • Bad habits
     • Tradition
     • Too much social media
     • Not enough time spent with God
   • But you will receive power when the Holy 
     Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest parts of the earth."  (Acts 1:8)
   • This is everybody's mission if you are saved.
   • We are to bring Jesus' message to the world.  We are to be Jesus' representatives to the world.
   • We must ask if our desires to feel safe and accepted are, in fact, enslaving us to popular opinion and to boredom.
2. Access to being unhindered
   • To these He also presented Himself alive after His suffering, by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days and speaking of the things concerning the kingdom of God.  (Acts 1:3)
   • They have seen the risen Christ.
   • Two ways God has provided to be unhindered:
     1. Keep your focus on a living, resurrected Jesus.
     2. Live filled with the Holy Spirit.
   • But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest parts of the earth."  (Acts 1:8)
   • John answered, saying to all, "I indeed baptize you with water; but One mightier than I is coming, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose.  He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire."  (Luke 3:16)
   • "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!"  (Luke 11:13)
   • He proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ - with all boldness and without hindrance!  (Acts 28:31)
3. Action to take to start being unhindered
   • Gathering them together, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for what the Father had promised, "Which," He said, "you heard of from Me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now."  (Acts 1:4-5)